Sunday, January 07, 2007

We Are Fragile

Tomorrow I'm back in the office. I've been catching up on e-mails and work for the better part of the last two days. I'm coming back to a hive of activity that I haven't experienced in years. It won't be easy.

But today I was reminded about what really matters—and I'm writing this down for my sake more so than yours.

We are Fragile.

Several months ago Eric Jacobs of Two Rivers Marketing woke up in the middle of the night because of a dream he had that he died young. He was compelled to record himself using the video camera on his computer. He left an intense message to his family filled with love and tears. He said goodbye to them—and then went back to bed.

Not long after that recording—a few weeks I think, Eric and three co-workers (above) were killed in a small plane crash near South Bend. Eric's premonition was tragically realized. He leaves behind four boys and a wife expecting their fifth.

Shortly after, Eric's wife found a DVD laying atop of his living will with this written on it:

"Eric's Last Words"

We are fragile. Yet we spend the bulk of our time worrying about the pressures of everyday life. We worry about who's linking to us and who's not.

We are fragile.

Yet we have our priorities backwards. We trade quality time for quantity. Friendships for connections. Community for networks.

We are fragile.

Tomorrow I go back to deadlines, bloglines and timelines. But at least I'll have this post to remind me what really matters most.